“All this will be duly denounced by the Republic of Cyprus where appropriate,” Papadopoulos said. “The defense minister will today inform the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy [Kaja Kallas], and will also inform the European Council during its proceedings,” he added.
The ministers were flying to Cyprus on Monday for a meeting of EU defense ministers on the island. Cyprus is the current holder of the six-month rotating European Council presidency.
Radio communications with the aircraft were disrupted by controllers operating from the Ercan airport near the town of Tymbou in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Cyprus, Greek and Cypriot officials told POLITICO. In addition, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets took off and tracked at least one of the aircraft carrying the European officials as they approached Cyprus, while maintaining a distance, the officials said.
The incidents involved a military plane transporting Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, as well as an aircraft carrying French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin, the officials said. A French official was not immediately available to comment.
A Cypriot official said the aircraft carrying the Dutch representation to Cyprus was also harassed. A Dutch official was not immediately available to comment.
Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south since Turkish forces invaded in 1974 in response to a coup backed by Greece. Ankara does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, which is an EU member country recognized internationally as the sole sovereign authority over the whole island. The Turkish Cypriot north is recognized only by Ankara.